In This Module

Develops, manages and administers a range of subsidized housing options and programs across British Columbia.

Core Housing Assistance Programs

• Subsidized Housing: Long-term, below-market rent in public, non-profit, or co-op housing. Apply centrally via The Housing Registry.
• Rental Assistance Program (RAP): Monthly cash assistance for low-income working families with children to help with rent in the private market.
• SAFER (Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters): Monthly cash assistance for eligible B.C. residents aged 60 or older who pay rent for their private market homes.
• Supportive & Emergency Housing: Connects vulnerable individuals or those at risk of homelessness with shelter spaces, transition homes (including services for women leaving violence), and outreach workers.

Tenancy Rights and Disputes

If you are currently renting and have disputes, questions about lease agreements, rent increases, or evictions, these fall under the BC Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB). The RTB provides legal guidelines, forms, and dispute resolution services for both landlords and tenants.

Contact Information

• BC Housing (Assistance & Inquiries): Call 1-800-257-7756 (toll-free) or 604-433-2218, or visit BC Housing to explore specific eligibility requirements and to access the Program Upload Form for document submissions.
• Residential Tenancy Branch: Visit the BC Government Housing & Tenancy portal to access RTB contact information and regional office locations

BC Government Housing and Tenancy
A provincial information hub that provides guidance, programs, and legal resources related to renting, affordable and social housing, homeownership, homelessness, Indigenous housing, and tenant-landlord rights in British Columbia. It connects residents, service providers, and community organizations to information on residential tenancy laws, housing supports, dispute resolution, rent assistance, local government housing tools, and housing policy initiatives aimed at improving housing affordability, stability, and community well-being.

BC Rent Bank
When times are tough and you can’t pay your rent or utilities, rent banks are here to help—offering financial support and connection to resources that can help keep you housed.

Tenant Resource and Advocacy Centre
TRAC is a non-profit organization that provides free legal education, representation, and advocacy on residential tenancy matters. A leader in tenants’ rights since 1984, TRAC’s mandate is to enhance legal protections for all tenants living in British Columbia. They also provide a resource list of other organizations including ones that focus on rights and advocacy.

Rainbow Refugees Sponsorship Program For LGBTQIA+ People – Through this program, LGBTQIA+ refugees gain assistance through funds for vital living
expenses such as daily necessities during the first 12 months following arrival. This initiative aims to support refugees in integrating into Canada without the overwhelming burden of financial instability.

Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AMHA)
For Indigenous, By Indigenous housing authority established in Canada. AHMA members manage over 95% of all Indigenous housing units located off-reserve in BC serving over 10,000 Indigenous individuals and families living in urban, rural, and northern parts of the province. AHMA advocates broadly for Indigenous housing, provides operational guidance, conducts research, supports asset management, and much more.

BC Housing (On and Off-Reserve options)
This particular BC housing website includes off and on-reserve housing services for Indigenous Peoples in rural B.C. areas, including Chilliwack, Dawson Creek, Port Alberni, Kamloops, Prince George, Vernon, and Williams Lake.

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Kootenays
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Kootenays branch offers resources for improving mental health conditions, addressing mental illness, and facilitating community integration. CMHA provides addiction, housing, and wellness services in 100 locations in Canada, including rural British Columbia.

Community Transitional Care – BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Provides transitional and supportive housing for people leaving the forensic mental health system, including those on conditional discharge. Housing ranges from highly supported residential settings to semi-independent options and rent subsidies, combined with ongoing mental health treatment and supervision. These services support recovery, housing stability, and safe community reintegration for people with complex forensic mental health needs.

Connective Support Society
Connective helps people with incarceration experience secure housing and supports before and after release from custody. Through pre-release planning, community reintegration services, and residential programs such as halfway houses, they provide structured housing, supervision, and connections to services that help people transition successfully back into the community and maintain longer-term housing.

John Howard Society of BC
The John Howard Society of BC supports people with incarceration experience by providing transitional and supportive housing, including programs specifically for people leaving correctional facilities. They help individuals secure and maintain housing, connect with community supports, and build skills for independent living through case management and wraparound services. Their reintegration programs also offer pre-release planning, community-based residential facilities, and ongoing support to help people transition successfully back into the community.

Unlocking the Gates
Since inception, Unlocking the Gates Services Society has provided support to individuals leaving correctional facilities in British Columbia. UTG Peer Mentors connect with individuals during their stay in custody to help with pre-release planning and offer peer support during the transition days following release.

Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George
Provides housing support as well as voice mail services to people who have no reliable form of communication.

Active Support Against Poverty
Provide advocacy services for low-income individuals in relation to welfare, disability, and tenancy issues. May also provide rent and utilities supplements.

AiMHi
Provides advocacy and support to people with special needs and their families.

Association Advocating for Women and Community
Provides housing support services to individuals in the community.

Canadian Mental Health Association (Prince George branch)
Provides housing support services for individuals with mental illness or addictions.

Foundry Prince George
Provides health, housing, and other social service support for youth (12–24) and their families.

Handy Circle Resource Society
Provides information and resources for individuals with disabilities.

Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society
Provides settlement services to newcomers.

Kikino Métis Children and Family Services Society
Provides access to culturally specific support and advocacy services for people of Métis heritage.

Positive Living North
Provides support for people living with HIV.

Prince George Council of Seniors
Provides information and advocacy for seniors, often related to health and housing.

Prince George Native Friendship Center
Connects homeless individuals with housing, income, and other support services.

Ask Wellness Society
Connects homeless individuals with housing, income, and other support services. May be able to provide crisis funding to individuals at risk of homelessness.

Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops
Supports youth (17–24) who are recently housed or waiting for housing.

Canadian Mental Health Association (Kamloops branch)
Provides case management services for homeless individuals that address basic needs including housing and income.

Interior Community Services
Provides outreach services to homeless youth (13–24).

Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society
Provides shower and laundry services to homeless individuals.

Kamloops and District Elizabeth Fry Society
Provides legal advocacy for low-income individuals on issues such as income, disability, and housing. Coordinates loans for overdue rent or utility payments for individuals not receiving income assistance.

Kamloops Immigrant Services
Provides settlement services to newcomers.

New Life Community
Provides outreach services to homeless individuals.

Thompson Rivers University Community Legal Clinic
Provides legal advocacy for low-income individuals on issues such as residential tenancy and human rights.

Capital Region Housing Corporation
Manages and operates various subsidized and supported housing properties across the region. You can find application steps and building locations via the CRHC Applying for Housing portal.

Cool Aid Society
Offers a wide range of services including emergency shelters, supportive, and transitional housing for vulnerable individuals.

Greater Victoria Housing Society
Offers a wide range of services including emergency shelters, supportive, and transitional housing for vulnerable individuals.

Greater Victoria Rent Bank
Provides one-time emergency loans or grants to low-income individuals and families who are at risk of eviction or need help securing safe housing.

Our Place Society
Provides shelter spaces, hot meals, transitional housing, and street-level outreach services.

Pacifica Housing Downtown Outreach Services
Offers a drop-in service in Victoria that assists those experiencing or at risk of homelessness with navigating housing and government applications.

Quadra Village Community Centre
Provides a dedicated housing resource program to assist with filling out affordable rental and seniors housing applications, as well as understanding your rights as a tenant.

Threshold Housing Society
Focuses specifically on preventing homelessness among youth (ages 16–24) by providing safe housing and support services.

Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS)
Offers legal advocacy, tenant rights education, and assistance with income assistance applications.

411 Seniors Centre Society
Provides information and referral support to seniors on a range of issues.

Aboriginal Mother Centre
Connects homeless Indigenous families and individuals (any gender) with housing, income, and other support services.

AIDS Vancouver
Provides case management services for people living with HIV that address basic needs including housing and income assistance.

Alouette Addictions Services (Maple Ridge)
Connects homeless individuals with housing, income, and other support services in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

Atira
Connects homeless women in Vancouver and Surrey with housing, income, and other support services. Provides legal advocacy for low-income women in the Downtown Eastside.

Canadian Mental Health Association (North and West Vancouver)
Connects homeless individuals with housing, income, and other support services.

Carnegie Community Centre
Connects homeless individuals with housing, income, and other support services.

Chimo Community Services (Richmond)
Provides assistance with housing and benefit applications as well as legal advocacy on issues such as residential tenancy and income assistance.

City of Vancouver – Housing
Provides information on City of Vancouver renter protection policies and helps renters find building-specific information.

Coast Mental Health
Connects homeless individuals in the Downtown South with housing, income, and other support services.

Collingwood Neighbourhood House
Connects homeless individuals in Renfrew-Collingwood with housing, income, and other support services.

Community Services (Maple Ridge)
Provides legal advocacy on issues such as residential tenancy and income assistance for individuals living in Maple Ridge or Pitt Meadows.

Covenant House Vancouver
Provides housing support to youth (16–24).

Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre
Provides housing-related assistance and advocacy for women who live or work in the Downtown Eastside.

Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation
Provides services for people living with HIV, including a day health program, residence program, and supportive housing.

First United
Provides legal advocacy for low-income people in the Downtown Eastside on issues such as residential tenancy and income assistance.

Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (Surrey)
Connects homeless Indigenous individuals with housing, income, and other support services.

Jewish Family Services
Provides settlement services to newcomers in Vancouver.

Justice Access Centre
Provides information and referral for legal issues that affect everyday life, including those related to residential tenancy.

The Kettle
Assists people with mental health problems with income assistance and BC Housing applications. Provides advocacy on issues such as residential tenancy and income assistance.

Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (multiple sites in Lower Mainland)
Assists low-income earners with legal issues, including residential tenancy.

Lookout Society (multiple sites in Lower Mainland)
Connects homeless individuals with housing, income, and other support services.

McLaren Housing
Provides housing options for people living with HIV, including directly managed housing and portable subsidies.

Mosaic (multiple sites in Lower Mainland)
Provides settlement services and legal advocacy for newcomers in the Lower Mainland.

MPA Society
Provides housing support services for individuals with mental illness.

Network of Inner City Community Services Society
Coordinates loans through the Vancouver Rent Bank for low-income residents in the City of Vancouver for overdue rent or utility payments, security deposits, or first month’s rent.

North Shore Community Resources (North Vancouver)
Provides legal advocacy on issues such as residential tenancy and income assistance for individuals in North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Bowen Island, and Lions Bay.

North Shore Multicultural Society (North Vancouver and West Vancouver)
Provides settlement services for newcomers.

Options Community Services (Surrey)
Connects homeless individuals with housing, income, and other support services (Surrey, White Rock, Delta). Provides housing support for youth, individuals with mental illness, and newcomers (Surrey with some services available in neighbouring cities including White Rock and Delta).

Pacific Community Resources Society
Provides housing support to youth (16–24) in the Lower Mainland.

Progressive Housing Society (Burnaby)
Connects homeless individuals with housing, income, and other support services.

Raincity Housing
Provides housing support services to individuals with mental illness, addictions and other challenges.

Richmond Rental Connect
Features a registry where landlords and tenants can list their vacancies and accommodation needs. Coordinates loans through Seniors Rent Bank to people 55 and older who are at risk of eviction or essential utility disconnection due to a temporary shortage of funds or financial crisis. Run by Chimo
Community Services.

Seniors Services Society
Provides information on housing options for seniors (60+) in the Lower Mainland. Coordinates loans through the Seniors Support Rent Bank to seniors who are at risk of eviction due to a temporary shortage of funds or crisis.

Sources (White Rock, Surrey, Delta, Langley)
Provides income assistance, benefits, and housing support. Coordinates one-time crisis loans through the Sources Rent Bank for low-income residents in Surrey, White Rock, and Delta for overdue rent or utility payments, security deposits, or first month’s rent.

St. Paul’s Anglican Church Advocacy Office
Provides information and support to individuals regarding issues such as residential tenancy, health and disability, and welfare.

Stepping Stone Community Services Society (Langley)
Connects homeless individuals with housing, income, and other support services.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
Provides settlement services for newcomers and assistance with filling out BC Housing forms for naturalized citizens.

Surrey Urban Mission
Provides housing support and helps with income assistance and BC Housing applications.

Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre
Provides housing support to urban Indigenous individuals.

Vancouver Aboriginal Transformative Justice Services Society
Connects homeless Indigenous individuals with housing, income, and other support services.

Vancouver Tenants Union
Provides education on and fights for renters’ rights.

Watari Counselling and Support Services Society
Connects homeless youth with housing, income, and other support services.

Wilson Heights United Church Advocacy Program
Provides information and support to individuals regarding issues such as residential tenancy, health and disability, and welfare.

Wings Housing
Provides housing options for people living with HIV, including portable subsidies.